by Kyle Houseworth: Millions of people around the world have made a pledge to demand climate justice this September. Here’s how yogis can participate…
“We are one with the environment” says Finn. “Take breathing for example. Breathing brings the outer world inside of you. We take air into our bodies and it passes through us via our blood – it’s hard to separate where physiology ends and the environment begins. Our job as yogis is to create experiences and rituals in our practice where we feel this interconnection.”
Here are six ways yogis can get involved in climate activism.
Participate in 3HO’s 40 Day Climate Strike Meditation. From September 20-October 29, 3HO, the organization that represents the global community of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, encourages you to recite the Prayer for Mother Earth by Guru Amar Das either 11 times each day or for 11 minutes each day for 40 days. If memorizing the meditation seems a little too daunting, feel free to listen to its musical rendition for 11 minutes instead while you sit in your preferred meditation posture. This meditation will bring your awareness toward the climate, allowing you to reflect on what this crisis means for the planet and how your actions are impacting the environment (for better or worse).
“Preparation over convenience is key,” says Finn. He recommends reducing consumption instead of relying on recycling, which means carrying items like, “a plate, a cup, a glass straw, a coffee cup, shopping bags, and a mason jar” with you so you don’t need single-use plastic packaging and to-go containers. Preparation can also act as an effective substitute for seated meditation. Washing your reusable dishes keeps you conscious of your environmental impact and provides a few minutes for you to reflect on the difference that you made today. Just don’t leave the water running!
The Global Climate Strike is taking place from September 20-27. Millions of people across nearly every major city in the world will be taking to the streets to demand actions be taken against climate change. Find a gathering near you and make your voice heard.
Did you know that the United Nations is holding the Climate Action Summit on September 23? Learn about what this summit is addressing and share your thoughts on it with friends, family members, and social media followers. Keeping the conversation around climate change going brings other people’s awareness to the issue. You may even want to call your representatives to make sure they don’t ignore the issue.